Chapter 386: Force‑feeding the Golden Boot? (Daily Transition)

Before going onto the pitch.

Li Kang was tightly hugged by an old friend from Lewokusen.

He could clearly feel the other's chest muscles becoming big and elastic, and the elbows had grown a size larger.

Son Heung-min transformed through his own effort and muscle gain, restraining his desires, and gradually adapted to the Premier League.

By this round, he had already scored 14 goals and provided 6 assists this season, with only 23 starting appearances.

If Lewokusen is in a rapid growth phase, then Tottenham's second half of the debut season is fully matured.

You should know that during the winter transfer window he still said he was unhappy in the Premier League, wanting to return to the Bundesliga, and Tottenham almost accepted Wolfsburg's offer...

Son Heung-min soon loosened the embrace and lightly patted Li Kang on the back of the head.

His thoughts seemed to be pulled back to that morning two years ago.

"Li, keep it up."

Li Kang nodded seriously; this was his first friend upon joining Lewokusen's first team, who had also enthusiastically guided him.

When the players walked out of the tunnel,

the Emirates Stadium erupted with a tsunami-like roar.

In the night sky, a plane trailed a red-and-white banner.

"eonyougunners"

Wenger and Pochettino stood up in the technical area, expressions stern.

Everyone waited in anticipation.

The pure gold Premier League trophy has appeared only once in history.

In the CTV5 livestream, the viewer count kept growing.

"The viewership record for the North London Derby will surely be broken tonight!"

"Can the Gunners lift the invincible golden cup?"

"Can the White Lily snipe down the enemy?"

"The Premier League Golden Boot race will see Li Kang and Kane settle the score tonight, as both have scored 26 goals in the league this season!"

"The Emirates Stadium is about to host a grand finale."

"Let's wait and see!"

"Now let's introduce the starting lineups for both sides."

"Arsenal lines up in a 4-3-3 formation!"

"Goalkeeper:..."

"..."

"Tottenham lines up in a 4-2-3-1 formation!"

"Goalkeeper: Lloris!"

"Defenders: Walker, Toby, Vertonghen, Rose!"

"Double pivot: Dier, Wanyama!"

"Midfield: Son Heung-min, Alli, Eriksen!"

"Forward: Kane!"

Accompanied by the referee's whistle.

The match officially began.

Arsenal had possession.

Giroud kicked the ball back to Li Kang.

Tottenham's front-line players quickly rushed past the midfield circle, launching a high press.

Pochettino is improving; in the latter half of this season he no longer clings to Bielsa's mad system, but instead strengthens the players' physical training on a foundation of balanced defense.

Even Alli's physique has become rock solid.

Abundant stamina and exaggerated wing-to-wing runs have earned the White Lily countless fans this season.

The ball zipped quickly between the red-and-white jerseys.

In Li Kang's system panel, all the mascots in the "King of London" achievement were still charging.

The phantom of the Happy Little Rooster struggled briefly, then was blown away by the night wind.

Smack!

Behind him, Xhaka sent a long pass.

The force was a bit too strong.

The ball happened to slow down in the area between Li Kang and Wanyama.

He quickened his step frequency.

Li Kang touched the ball first with his left foot.

The next second, it was nudged by the little black egg's long legs!

"No wonder he's the new Premier League tackle king, Wanyama! Wow, that defensive move was a bit big, tripping Li Kang."

"The local derby's tension is rising... huh? The two friendly helped each other up, patted each other's backsides—this scene is rare in North London."

"The referee was pleased with the outcome, gave no card, and only verbally warned the Tottenham midfielder."

"From the slow-motion replay, Wanyama did have a foot‑withdrawing motion."

"We can see Pochettino reprimanding his disciple's rashness, just as he recently scolded Alli for a malicious foul; the Tottenham boss has plenty of charisma, and although their foul count leads the Premier League, most are tactical fouls."

"If the White Lily can maintain this style and competitive form, I believe they will gradually fill the club's honor room with championship trophies in the future."

The overall tone of the derby was set as the first foul was called.

Besides Ali and Zaca, the fouls committed by players on both sides were not serious, ensuring the match's fluidity; this fluidity had also appeared in the two encounters of 15/16.

Pochettino's Tottenham wanted to openly rely on strength to check the rival's unbeaten season!

Gradually.

Still, it returned to the familiar scene: Arsenal besieging Tottenham.

At this moment, Toby and Vertonghen formed a top central-defense pairing in the game.

Li Kang did not give the left-footed center back the rhythm to unleash a deadly counterattack.

He directed his teammates, and the Gunners' attack focused on Ross's side.

Pochettino quickly made an adjustment: let the physically stronger Son Heung-min and Wanyama cover dangerous areas, with Dier dropping back to align parallel with the defensive line, shortening the gap in the ribs.

The thickening of the central defensive zone also left Li Kang no chance to take a long shot from midfield.

Gaps will always appear.

12th minute of the match.

Giroud went wide; during this period, in team training matches he had emulated Mandzukic's role as a wide focal point.

Maguire suddenly surged forward, received the ball, then launched a long pass to switch play, looking for Cazorla!

"Morata's crossing run, sneaking into the penalty area."

"Cazorla's through ball ripped open the rib area!"

"Beautiful!"

"The Spanish striker, with his back to goal, touched the ball and laid it off for Sanchez, who had made a run in!"

"What is called an Arsenal explosion point! The petite Chilean striker lets the tall Belgian center-back not be able to stop him!"

"Huh? Isn't he going to shoot himself? The Tottenham penalty area is in chaos!"

"How did the ball come out?"

"Must we let Li Kang shoot?"

"Got it!"

Li Kang met the uncontrolled ball at the left side of the penalty area.

No phantom of the Zebra Prince appeared in his vision.

The air above Tottenham's penalty area did not see a replay of the Turin rainbow.

He trapped the ball.

One touch.

Push toward the corner!

Even the most nitpicky BBC commentator could find no flaw in that standard shooting posture!

Bang!

The football pierced the chaotic defense.

It lifted Tottenham's net.

Lloris angrily roared at Son Heung-min.

1-0!

！

"The ball went in!"

"Li Kang scored his 27th goal in the Premier League! Temporarily atop the scoring charts!"

"The handling before the shot was too perfect."

"Dancing on the blade's tip!"

"Hmm, looking at the replay... Arsenal's attacking patterns are a bit complicated!"

"Sanchez clearly had a chance to shoot himself, yet he insisted on setting up Li Kang!"

"Not betraying his teammates' good intentions, Li Kang delivered the decisive blow!"

"Compared to the start of the season, this Arsenal has become very cohesive in both attack and defense, giving them the credentials to contend for any trophy."

"I sincerely hope that next season... this bunch of Gunners, not a single one can be missing!"

The live broadcast room.

-【Teary-eyed, will this big idiot Sanchez assist inside the penalty area?】

-【Little Li, although the Arsenal teammates' strength is not as good as the Euro national teams, they have gelled well; their coordination is too smooth, a delight to watch!】

-【Come on Arsenal, after finishing the Champions League, win another Super Cup! Win another Club World Cup!】